Massive protests against Kosovo’s secession
From Olympiakos football fans at the Champions League match with Chelsea in Athens to the streets of Belgrade, Kosovska Mitrovica or Sydney protests are continuing against the unilateral secession of Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, February 21, 2008
Serbs are protesting in Belgrade at a massive rally, organized by the Serbian government, the Serbian Orthodox Churcha and Serbian political parties, and including the participation and support by celebrities such as Palme D'Or winner and film director Emir Kusturica, Australian Open tennis champion Novak Djokovic and the captain of the Serbian world champion basketball team Dejan Bodiroga.
Serbs worldwide are also setting for a weekend of protests worldwide - from the EU's Schumann square in Brussels to the UN' Place des Nations in Geneva.
In Strasbourg on Wednesday, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremich lashed out at the members of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee.
"I am ashamed as a European", Jeremic said, criticizing "a unilateral, illegal and illegitimate secession".
"Relations between Serbia and some EU members have become endangered and I do not see how we could accelerate our efforts towards Europe", Jeremic said.
Serbia's minister has recalled ambassadors from all countries which have recognized the secession of Kosovo so far.
Serbia's Trade minister Predrag Bubalo said Serbia would launch a number of court and arbitration proceedings before international institutions to protect Serbia's state property in Kosovo, which he evaluated at $200 and 400 billion.
In the meantime, Bubalo said, "work must be done to open new jobs and production facilities for the people in the enclaves" in Kosovo.
"Public enterprises will have to forge even stronger links with the companies in this sector, suh as the Electric Power company, Telekom, the postal system. Everyone must step up their activities," he said.
